What is the BDA Quality Mark about?

The philosophy underpinning the Quality Mark is that changing practice to accommodate dyslexic individuals often results in good practice for everyone.

In the case of educational institutions, the British Dyslexia Association recognises that the majority of moderately dyslexic students will be taught in mainstream classrooms and by non specialist tutors.

Therefore it is important that, as well as employing appropriate teaching methods, all environments are dyslexia friendly. This is what the Quality Mark strives to be.

For more information on Dyslexia Friendly Schools, please see our Application pack for schools in England , Dyslexia Friendly Schools information pack and the ICT Supplement to the Dyslexia Friendly Schools pack.

For a copy of the Dyslexia Friendly Schools pack in Welsh please email Eorann Lean on qualitymark@bdadyslexia.org.uk or call 0845 251 9003, and select option 1.

Regulations concerning the BDA Quality Mark and the use of the BDA Quality Mark logo.

Following a number of queries recently brought to our attention, the BDA wish to clarify the following points concerning its BDA Quality Mark.

BDA Quality Mark Position Statement

The BDA Quality Mark is an external sign of approval of a dyslexia friendly organisation. It is conferred by the BDA. This award is issued to those organisations who have met at the time of verification and continue to meet the quality standards relevant to that organisation for the duration of the Quality Mark award period.

1. In order to maintain high standards, the BDA may need to make changes to the criteria from time to time . In the event of this occurring, the BDA will issue notice of these changes and allocate a period of 6 months to those organisations to whom it is appropriate to enable any necessary changes in policy and practice to be made by the organisation concerned. During that 6 month period, organisations will be required to submit evidence in writing to the BDA Quality Mark office as to how they are addressing the amended or new criteria published by the BDA in order to retain their Quality Mark status.

2. In the instances where the BDA has conferred its Quality Mark award to a Local Authority or a division thereof, it is only that body that has permission to publish the BDA Quality Mark logo. The body to whom the BDA has conferred the BDA Quality Mark logo is not authorised to distribute the BDA Quality Mark logo to any school or provider under its jurisdiction.

3. It should be noted that a Dyslexia Friendly school is not the same as a Dyslexia Specialist Provision school, where the school is established primarily to teach pupils with dyslexia. For a list of dyslexia specialist schools please see http://www.crested.org.uk or call 0845 601 5013.